Mayer Brown welcomes resolution in anti-discrimination case against the School District of Philadelphia

Mayer Brown helped successfully resolve a significant anti-discrimination case on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) against the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), addressing repeated incidents of antisemitic harassment, bullying, and discrimination.

The matter focused on the SDP’s failure to adequately address numerous incidents of discrimination and harassment against Jewish students and families in the SDP in the 14 months following the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel. In a complaint filed in July 2024 with the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the ADL argued that the SDP’s policies and responses were insufficient and violated the SDP’s obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in educational institutions that receive federal funding.

In a Resolution Agreement entered between the OCR and the SDP on December 19, 2024, the SDP resolved the ADL’s allegations by agreeing to implement comprehensive reforms to its policies and practices. These reforms include mandatory anti-discrimination training for all staff, the establishment of a dedicated office to handle discrimination complaints, and the creation of a more inclusive curriculum that reflects the diversity of the student body.

“We are proud to have stood alongside the ADL and a courageous group of Jewish families in calling out the severe and persistent harassment and discrimination facing Jewish students in the District over the last 14 months,” said David Yolkut, counsel at Mayer Brown. “We are gratified by the OCR’s thorough investigation and detailed findings, and hopeful for a brighter day for Jewish students and their families.”

The Mayer Brown pro bono team was led by partner Matthew Ingber and counsel David Yolkut and included associates Benjamin Bright, Charley Lanter, and Miranda Katz.

Learn more about Mayer Brown’s pro bono work.

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